met with in these modern times, when the spread of cultivation, and the zeal of English sportsmen, have almost exterminated the breed of these animals.

During the hunt the jungle was on fire in several places, and, the wind being high, the flames at one time gained so fast upon us that the line was obliged to retreat. I saw here a confirmation of the fact, that in high grass jungles fires run to windward if there be a fresh breeze. This is easily accounted for: the wind bends the long silky dry grass over that which is already ignited, the flames catch the pendant tops, and thus, as long as there is material, the infection spreads.

When we returned to camp, and had deposited our game in the main street, hundreds of spectators arrived and assembled round us. The claws and whiskers of tigers being looked upon as efficient charms by the natives, some of these desiderata were quickly snatched away before we could prevent the depredation.

Four other sportsmen of our party returned to camp this evening, having been out for 4 days in a different direction. They only killed one tiger, but he was an immense beast, and was shot on the head of Colonel F.'s elephant, which he wounded severely. This is considered the acme of tiger shooting; so I know not how P.'s affair would rank in a comparative ratio!

CHAPTER III.

Nujeebabad The Dhag-tree Tiger-hunt Asofghur The GangesHurdwar-A north-wester - Booreah -The

Seikhs - Bussee

- Indian

pilgrims - Ruins of Sirhind - Rajah of Patialah Arms of the Seikhs

march Booreah

Seikh war-quoits - Loudiana - Runjeet
Singh - The kite-dance- Retrograde
Mustaphabad

A family group

- Hurdwar fair-Bathing in the Ganges-Indian robber

Mode of bargaining - Native hunters.

March 2nd.-CROSSED the Ganges, and encamped near the village of Daranugger, in Rohilcund.

On the 5th we reached Nujeebabad, and the camp was pitched in a beautiful amphitheatre of mango-groves, with a distant view of the Himalaya mountains. Here we got information from some shikkarees (native hunters), of two tigers having been seen in a forest about 6 miles distant in the direction of the hills. A party of 7 will start from our camp to-morrow morning to beat up their quarters.

March 6th.-Whilst the camp marched 13 miles to the hamlet of Asofghur, the 7 sportsmen above mentioned galloped off early in the morning to a tent which had been sent forward, with some provisions, to the spot in the jungle where it was judged convenient to begin the chase. After breakfast we mounted our elephants, and proceeded to the sporting-ground. The features of the country were widely different from those of the scene of our last day's sport. We found ourselves in a luxuriant forest abounding in a species of tree which I had not seen before, namely, the dhâg; bearing a fine wide dark-coloured leaf, and a beautiful tulip-shaped crimson flower. Occasionally we came upon extensive open savannahs of grass jungle or rushy swamps. Vast numbers of wild boars, hog-deer, and other smaller game, started up before us; but we had determined beforehand not to fire at anything until we found a tiger, as these animals, when disturbed by a distant shot, are in the habit of sneaking away, and escaping into the woods, whither it is impossible to follow them. After diligently toiling for some hours, and patiently abstaining from less noble game, I suddenly came directly upon a fine tiger, in an almost impenetrable thicket of bushes. I shot him in the back, at the distance of half a dozen paces, but it only served to make him run faster. On breaking covert he directed his course right through a drove of buffaloes, which stood still and gazed at him, whilst the herdsman quietly smoked his goorhee-goorhee, and sleepily pointed out the direction he had taken. He took refuge in a thick rushswamp, and Captain Archer shot him after he had severely torn the trunk of his elephant.

Later in the day we found another very fine tiger, but,

Jenn Murray 1858

although he was viewed several times, he made good his retreat, favoured by the thickness of the covert and the numerous trees which retarded the progress of the elephants. A hog-deer and a little wild pig fell to my gun. The former is a large and rather clumsy animal, with a bristly hide, and is supposed to constitute the chief food of the tiger.

During the day we several times approached within 12 miles of the lower range of mountains of Kumaon. Their bold and well-wooded heights, and the dim blue outline of the more distant Himalayas, were most refreshing to eyes that for so long a period had been accustomed to repose on the flat unvaried plains of Hindostan.

After the chase we had a long and fatiguing march to camp at Asofghur. In the evening the jungle was on fire so near the camp, that we were in some alarm lest it should communicate with the tents of the servants and horses.

The next morning, refreshed by "tired Nature's sweet restorer" from the fatigues of the preceding day, we sprung into our howdahs (as a novelist would say), and with 20 elephants repaired to the jungle. We had not far to go, for Asofghur, which must be the depôt royal of malaria and jungle fever, is hemmed in on all sides by forests intersected by spacious swampy plains covered with the rankest and most luxuriant grass and rushes. The appearance of the country and the very smell of the air were enough to give a fit of the ague to any one but a truly ardent sportsThe active employment of the attention, and the constant excitement of the spirits, must act as great preservatives of the constitution of an English sportsman in India; for though I cannot myself boast of "a frame of adamant," I have been constantly on my elephant from morn till dewy eve," in the hottest weather, and the most pestiferous jungles, and never felt my health affected by it. There can be no doubt, however, that the constitution is eventually broken up by constant exposure to the sun in tropical climates.

man.

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